Electric-circuit-controlling apparatus



Ma 31 1927. v

y s.- G. FISHER ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CNTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 27, 1924 Hm @n WG wu m f,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE.

SAMUEL G. FISHER, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application med December 27, 1924. SerialY No. 758,356.

This'invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an electric circuit and has for its object to provide a mechanism of the character set forth for use in connection with an vapparatus for indicating certain predetermined bin or bunker levels of=semi solid materials, such as pulverized or X crushed coal, flour, grain and the like.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus that will not have a tend- .,ency to become choked with the material located within the bunker, thereby preventing its operation, and that will act easily and quickly when the level of the material within the bunker reaches the actuating member and which will be proof against explosive and fire hazards.

The invention consists in thel combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly as l lpointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a bunker illustrating actuating mechanisms for an apparatus embodying my invention mounted at predetermined high and low levels for material stored in said bunker.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for the apparatus illustrating the electric connections from the actuating mechanisms to the audible and visible signals.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of an actuating mechanism for the apparatus, a portion thereof being broken away and illustrated in section.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken on the line '4f-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. Slooking upwardly in said figure.

- Like numerals refer to like arts throughout'the several views of the rawings.

In' the drawings, A represents a bunker of any suitable form and construction, and used for the purpose of storing such semisolid materials as crushed or powdered coal, flour, grain and the like. Mounted inthe bunker A at a point adjacent to the top thereof is an actuating mechanism B which forms a portion of the indicating apparatus of this invention, said actuating mechanism being located at a level b within the bunker it -is desired that the material within said bunker shall accumulate. Another actuating mechanism C is mounted in the bunker A at a level 0 which is a predetermined loW level for the material within said bunker.

The actuating mechanisms B and C are identical in construction, each embodying therein a main casing 6 consisting of meinbers 7 and 8 which are fastened together in any suitable manner. The main casing 6 is preferably located at a distance from the inside wall of the bunker A for the reason that in most cases when the material within the bunker is withdrawn, its center falls away rapidly leaving steep sides, the slope of which depends upon the shape of the bunker and the moisture contents of the material, and as the device of this invention is dependent for satisfactory operation upon the changing pressure upon an actuating and said front wall has a rearwardly bent flange 10 formed thereon which extends entirelyaround said opening. Within the casnig 6 is an enclosure 11, and the entire under si e of said casing is open at 12 to permit the material from the bunker which enters vthe casing through ythe opening 9 to pass downwardly and out of said casing as soon.

as the level of the material within the bin is again lowered.

' Located within the enclosure 11 is a door 13 constituting a-Iiactuatin member and the latter is pivotally mounte upon the member 8 of the casing 6, being rigidl secured to a rock shaft 14 by a pair o suitable clamping members 15.

Inits normal position the door, or actuating member 13, engages the inner edge of the flange 10 and completely closes the opening 9 in the front -wall of the casing 6. The actuating member 13 at each side thereof has a rearwardly projecting side 'flange 16 preferably formed integral therewith, and secured to the flanges 16 adjacent to the rear edges thereof are weights 17 which act to counterbalance said actuating member and aid in returning the same to its normal closed position against the 1nner edve of the flange 10.

ormed integral with the member 8 of thecasing 6 and projecting forwardly there. trom is a llanged portion 18 at the front of which a gasket 19 and plate 20 are secured in a manner to form a dust tight` compartment 21. The rock shaft 14 is mounted within the lian ed portion 18 of the casing member 8 in suc a manner that the end portions of said shaft will be located within the enclosure 11, while the central portion of said shaft will extend through the compartment 21. Stulling boxes 22 are rovided for the purpose of preventing dirt from entering the compartment2l around the periphery of they shaft 14. An arm 23 is rigv lidly secured to the ortion of the rock shaft ywithin the compart' Y the predetermined high level of the material 14 that is locate ment 21.

A tube 24 has screw-threaded engagement with the member 8 of the casing 6 at the rear ofthe latter, and at the rear vend of said tube an auxiliary casin 25 is mounted, said casing having screw-t readed engagement with said tube. The tube 24l projects through the wall of the bunker A, the main casing 6 being located Within said bunker and the auxiliary casing 25 being locatedupon the exterior thereof as illustrated in Fig. 1. The auxiliary casing 25 has a dust tight compartment 26 upon thev interior thereof,

- which communicates with the compartment 21 of the main casing 6 through a passageway 27 extending through the tube 24'. A gasket 28 .-andpcover plate 29 are provided for the auxiliary casing 25. Y

Mounted `within the auxiliary easing 25 is an electric switch 30, and in order to eliminatethe fire and explosion hazard, said switch 30 is preferably of a mercury type, well lmbwn' to those skilled in-the art, in which the mercury is contained within an enclosed cylindrical casing 31 having trun nions 32 that are mounted to rock in brackets 33 fast to the casing 25. In electric switches of this type the circuit is opened and'closed' by separating the mercury, the latter being accomplishe by rocking t ecylindrical mercury container 31, `and t0 accomplish this result, an arm 34 is rigidly/'secured at one' end thereof to a trunnion 32, while the other end of said arm is operatively connected by a rod 35 with the arm 23, said connecting rod 35 extending fromthe compartment 26 through the passageway 27 to the compartment 21,.

The switches '3G/of the actuating'mechanisms B and C are connected by wires 36,37 and 38 with indicating lights 39 and 40, and an audible signal41 as illustrated in Fig.' 2, the light 39 being operated by the actuating mechanism B and the light 40 bein o erated by the actuating mechanism e audible signal 41 is operated by each of the actuating mechanisms. The electric circuit also embodies therein a suitable source of power 42 and test button 43, the latter normally being o en. e

. The genera operation of the a paratus hereinbefore specifically described 1s as follows z-Assuming that the level of the material within the 4bunker'A is above the level represented at c in Fig. 1, and said bunker is being refilled, as the material rises withinv said bunker and reaches the level illustrated at b, the weight of the material will exert a side pressure against the actuatin member 13 'of the mechanism B rocking sa1d actuating member rearwa'rdl and thereby operating the electric'switcii7 30 in amanner to complete `an electric circuit to the visible signal 39 andl audible signal 41, and said signals will indicate tothe proper persons that Within the bunker has been reached. 5,.

On the other hand, when the bunker is being emptied, the vmaterial therein will be lowered until it reaches the level c at which time the material in withdrawingv from in .front of the actuating member 13 of the mechanism C will allow said actuating member to rock forwardly, in this instance completing the electric circuit at the switch 30 thereof and indicating at bothv the visible signal 40 and audible signal 41 that the material has reached the low level c and it is not desired to have any more material removed from said bunker. e A

It will be evident that other actuating mechanisms may be located -at other levels incorporated in the electric circuit for the vpurpose of indicating other levels within said bunker if it is so desired.' It will be particularly noted that the construction of that portion ofthe mechanism of this apparatus lthat is located ad'acent signal. *y y,

2. An apparatus of. the class described an enclod e 4within the bunker A and the proper signals' llo the class described v and passageway and ladapted to operate a 4 comprising, in combination,l a main casing 4 provided with a dust tight compartment passageway therein 'having an enclosed communicating therewith, an auxiliary casing communicating wlthsaid passageway,

i an actuating member pivotally mounted within said lmain casing, a switch located within said auxiliary casing and adapted to operate a signal, and means connected to said actuating member and extending through said compartment and passageway and adapted to operate said switch'. 4

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a main casing provided with an opening in one of the walls thereof and also having a dust tight compartment located therein having an enclosed passageway communicating therewith, a rock shaft mounted 1n said main caslng, an actuating member fast to said rock shaft and located within said main casing at the rear of said opening, an arm fast to said rock shaft land located within said dust tight compartment, an auxiliary casing communicating with said passageway, a switch located within said auxiliary casing adapted to operate a signal, and means extending through said passageway and operatively connecting said arm to said switch.

4. In. combination, a main casing provided with an opening in one of the walls thereof and also having a dust tight compartment located therein, a tube fast at one end thereof in said main casing, an auxiliary casing mounted upon the other end of said tube, the interior of said tube communicating with both of said casings, an actuating member pivotally mounted within said mam casing, a .switchlocated within said auxiliary casing and adapted to operate a signal, and means extending lthrough said dust tight compartment and passageway and operatively connecting said actuating member to said switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y SAMUEL G. FISHER. 

